Small cardamom prices rose further on buying support as the picking is in the final round in most of the estates in Kerala.

At the auctions held in Kerala and Tamil Nadu last week, the individual auction average stood at ₹1,016.22 a kg.

“The crop, in 90 per cent of the estates, will be harvested by the end of February end. Besides, given the current dry spell and the unpredictable weather pattern of late, next crop may not be expected after June only. These factors have prompted dealers to cover whatever becomes available now,” PC Punnoose, General Manager, CPMC, told BusinessLine . This phenomenon has aided the price rise.

During the current season so far the prices were at moderately good levels, he added. The exporters have bought an estimated 80-100 tonnes last week. Upcountry buyers were also actively covering, he said. However, the prices were steady at the auction held today.

At the Cardamom Planters Association (CPA), Santhanpara auction held in Bodinayakannur today, 22 tonnes arrived and of these 19 tonnes were traded. The maximum price stood at ₹1,201/kg, while the auction average remained almost steady at ₹968.22 (₹969.95).

Total arrivals last week increased to 721 tonnes from 579 tonnes the week before. The Individual auction average has also gone up to ₹1,016.22 from ₹966.59 the previous week.

The auction average moved up and was vacillating between ₹1,001 and ₹1,065 a kg last week. Total arrivals during the current season as on February 3 were at 16,695 tonnes and sales were at 16,335 tonnes. The individual auction average of the season was at ₹961.39.

Prices of graded varieties (₹/kg): 8mm green bold: 1,300-1,320; 7-8 mm: 1,080-1,100; 6-7 mm 980. Good bulk was being traded at ₹1,000-1,050 a kg.